This felt so much longer while writing it, surprised at how short it ended up being.
CONTENT WARNING; Sexual harrassment.
Four Months Until Entrance Exam
Momo felt the breeze blow through her hair as she jogged through the park, her breathing steady, matching the rhythmic sound of her shoes hitting the ground. She was having a wonderful day. The sky above was clear, with just a few clouds lazily drifting by, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. It was the kind of day that filled her with a quiet sense of peace and need to be active. She had just received confirmation yesterday, she had qualified to take the recommended exams. After months of hard work, it felt like everything was finally falling into place.
The recommended exams were three months from now. Miss Tanchō explained that they made it this way so students who didn't pass could still take the regular exam. Momo was thankful that there was a built-in safety net, her nerves were eating at her and she was terrified of freezing up at a crucial moment. It didn't help that U.A.'s practical exams were notoriously secretive. Nobody knew what they involved, and that unknown factor only heightened her nerves.
And while she felt confident in her abilities, there was still much to do. Her grades were excellent, and she had aced all of the mock exams, but she knew she couldn't afford to slack off now. 'I have to stay sharp,' she reminded herself. Success wasn't just about being prepared, it was about maintaining that preparation, staying focused until the very end. Complacency now could undo all her progress.
Still, she allowed herself a small moment of pride. All of the late-night study sessions, the meticulous notes, the endless problem-solving, it had all been worth it. Momo knew she was ready, and that knowledge filled her with a sense of accomplishment that she didn't always let herself feel.
As she continued her laps, she couldn't help but smile when people waved or nodded in greeting as she passed. It was a small gesture, but it warmed her heart. Each friendly smile felt like a quiet cheer, as if they were silently rooting for her, encouraging her to keep going.
It reminded her of why she wanted to be a hero.
Finishing her current lap, she slowed her pace, stopping at a small rest area. She reached for her water bottle, grateful for the brief break. As she took a sip, she leaned against the cool stone wall, letting the moment of rest settle over her. The park was peaceful today, with only the soft sounds of birds and the distant chatter of other park-goers breaking the quiet.
She smiled to herself, content. There was still a lot to do, but for now, this small moment of calm was hers to enjoy.
"Why hello gorgeous."
Any semblance of a good mood Momo felt vanished as she heard that voice. It was one she knew all to well. Standing up straight, she turned to see Kabuto walking towards her. "Hello, Kabuto," she greeted him, her voice flat, giving nothing away. "Is there something you needed from me?"
He grinned, flashing that insufferably smug smile that he seemed to think was irresistible. "Besides your company? I don't think I could ask for much more." He leaned in slightly, his tone oozing with false charm. She had no idea how anyone could fall for this act, and yet, somehow, people did. Maybe she was the odd one out.
Momo resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "I'm afraid I can't offer much today, I have a busy schedule to keep." A partial truth. She did have places to be but it was all of her own accord. If she wanted, she could have easily stayed home all day, curled up with a novel, avoiding any unpleasant encounters like this. In hindsight, she was starting to regret not doing just that.
Kabuto, however, seemed undeterred. He sauntered closer, his eyes never leaving her. "Always so busy," he mused, a condescending smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "You really should take a break now and then. Otherwise, people are just going to think you're a stuck-up bitch." His words were punctuated by a loud, self-satisfied laugh, as if he'd said something clever or funny.
Momo was shocked at the sudden language of here classmate. He had always pushed his limits with her but for the most part he kept his mouth clean. What's worse, knowingly or not, he managed to strike a major insecurity of hers. For as long as she could remember, Momo had struggled with how others saw her. People often treated her like a walking ATM, a symbol of privilege and wealth, not a person with feelings or thoughts of her own. But what hurt even more was the fear that her reserved, often distant nature made her seem as though she thought she was better than everyone else. It wasn't true, she knew she wasn't superior to anyone for any reason, but the thought always gnawed at her. Especially when she declined invitations to shopping trips or turned down family dinners. 'Do they already think that about me? Is it too late to change their minds?'
"So, my advice," his words startled Momo out of her head, only now letting her notice how close he had gotten to her, "take a day off. Say, it's about lunch time right? Why don't I take you out, make you feel special." His tone dripped with entitlement, and it was clear that this wasn't a polite suggestion. It was a command.
Momo took a step back, needing to distance herself from him. "As I said I have plans. In fact, I should get going."
Kabuto took a step forward, following her. "Oh, don't be like that." He leaned in closer, lowering his voice to something he probably thought was seductive, though it only made her stomach twist in discomfort. "Look at you, you're exhausted. Take a load off. Hell, we'll skip the restaurant and go straight to my place if you prefer."
Momo felt a sharp pang of revulsion. The casual way he suggested it, as if he was doing her a favor, made her skin crawl. Her heart raced, not with fear, but with an overwhelming urge to escape, to be anywhere but here. She took another step back, her hands clenched tightly at her sides as she struggled to maintain her composure. "I'm afraid I have someone waiting for me," she said, her voice tight but polite. "I can't cancel on them."
It was a lie, of course. There was no one waiting for her, but she hoped it would be enough to get him to back off, even just a little. Maybe if he thought she was committed to someone else, he'd lose interest. Maybe he'd let her go.
Kabuto didn't seem to care. He only smirked, as if amused by her attempt to wriggle out of the situation. "Call them and cancel," he said, a hint of irritation rising in his voice. He stepped forward again, his shadow looming over her as his gaze darkened. "I have to say, there is a point were playing hard to get stops being fun."
Momo's heart pounded in her chest as she instinctively took another step back, only to find herself trapped. Her back hit the cold, unforgiving surface of the stone wall she had been resting against moments before. The once comforting coolness now felt like a prison. She was cornered.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to close in around her, the park's quiet beauty fading into the background as her focus narrowed on the immediate danger standing right in front of her. Kabuto's presence felt suffocating, his eyes trained on her like a predator eyeing prey. She could feel the weight of his expectation, the sickening sense of entitlement that hung in the air between them.
Her mind raced. What could she do? She couldn't simply walk away, he'd just follow her. He was too close, too aggressive. Panic started to build, clawing at the edges of her mind, but she forced herself to breathe, to stay calm. Panicking would only make things worse.
"I'm not playing hard to get, Kabuto," she said, her voice firmer now, despite the tremor in her hands. She lifted her chin slightly, trying to project confidence even though her legs felt like they might give out beneath her. "I'm telling you that I'm not interested. I need to leave."
But Kabuto didn't back down. He took another step closer, his breath now warm against her face as he rested his arm on the wall above her head. Despite her height, Kabuto still managed to tower over her. "You know, you really ought to think this through," he said softly, his voice taking on a more sinister edge. "I don't like being told no. You wouldn't want to make me angry, would you?"
"HEY! MOMO!" Both heads turned to see the source of the sudden yelling. To her relief it was someone she recognized, and someone she knew she could trust. Standing on the jogging path was Izuku Midoriya, dressed in white sweatpants with blue stripes down his legs, and a white shirt sporting a symbol she didn't recognize. He was waving at her, making a big show of getting her attention, even some other park goers were starting to look at him, and by extension her. Enough at least for Kabuto to remove his arm from the wall and take a small step back.
The green-haired boy started to close the distance between them but stopped about halfway. It was only after he got closer that Momo was able to see the look in his eyes. He was worried, anxious, and protective all at the same time. "Sorry I took so long, my train got delayed." He spoke quickly, eyes darting between her and her classmate. "Are you ready to go? I need to break in these running shoes."
Momo instantly understood what Izuku was trying to do and quickly fell into step with his plan. She forced a smile, trying to mask her discomfort and play along. "Of course, I didn't mean to keep you waiting," she replied smoothly, her voice only faltering slightly. Turning back to Kabuto, her face hardened as she forced a more formal tone, "Have a pleasant day," she added quickly, the words crisp and to the point, before swiftly pivoting and walking off with Izuku.
The two moved away at a brisk pace, their strides fast and determined, though not so rushed as to appear suspicious. Momo could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the tension coiling inside her like a spring wound too tight. Relief began to wash over her, grateful for the chance to escape the uncomfortable situation.
No, uncomfortable wasn't enough. She had to tell someone about what just happened…
But then she heard Kabuto's voice, sharp and demanding, cutting through the air. "Hey! I wasn't done talking to you!" Kabuto shouted after her, his tone taking on a dangerous edge. She could hear his footsteps quickening behind them, his presence like a shadow she couldn't shake.
Before she could react, Kabuto lunged forward and grabbed her arm with a firm grip. Momo froze for a second, her mind racing. She had been patient for too long, but this was the final straw. Her usually calm and composed demeanor shattered as anger and frustration boiled over. Without hesitation, she summoned a small bottle of the strongest pepper spray she knew how to make into her free hand, her thoughts focused on nothing but getting Kabuto to let go.
She turned sharply and sprayed him directly in the face, making sure to coat his eyes, nose, and mouth with the burning substance. Kabuto recoiled in pain, his eyes squeezed shut as he let out a nearly primal scream. Tears streamed down his face as he clawed at his eyes, but despite the intense pain, his grip on her arm didn't loosen. If anything, it tightened. Momo's heart skipped a beat. How could he still be holding on?
Her mind scrambled for her next move. 'Do I create a weapon? A staff? A blade? What if I-' Her thoughts were cut short as suddenly, Kabuto's grip went slack. His face contorted in pain as a high-pitched squeak escaped his mouth, his entire body doubling over. It wasn't until he collapsed to the ground in a heap that Momo saw what had happened.
Standing behind him was a girl with short purple hair, her expression fierce and unapologetic. She stood with one leg slightly raised, the culprit of Kabuto's swift defeat: a perfectly aimed kick between the legs.
Momo blinked in surprise as she caught her breath, the tension in her body starting to melt away. The newcomer smirked, folding her arms over her chest as she looked down at Kabuto with a mix of disgust and amusement.
"You're welcome," the girl said casually, as if this was just another day in the life.
Momo could barely muster a response as she tried to regain her composure. "Th-Thank you," she stammered, her voice shaky from the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
The purple-haired girl simply shrugged. "No problem. Guys like him need to learn their place."
Izuku, who had been ready to jump in but clearly relieved that the situation had deescalated, glanced at Momo with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, his eyes scanning her face for any signs of distress.
Momo nodded, though she still felt a lingering unease. "I will be," she replied quietly, glancing down at Kabuto, who was now writhing on the ground in pain. She felt no pity for him, only a sense of finality. This would be the last time he tried anything with her.
Heavy steps could be heard approaching them, the familiar sound comforting Momo even further. "I swear, if there's so much as a bruise on your arm he's never seeing the light of day again." She looked up toe see Gādo walking up to them.
"I'm okay. Tougher than I look, remember?" she said softly, her voice calm but still shaky with the adrenaline coursing through her.
Gādo didn't smile back, at least not right away. His eyes, sharp and vigilant, lingered on her for a few more moments, checking her over for any sign of harm. He noted the faint tremor in her hands, the slight tightness in her jaw, but physically, she seemed unharmed. Satisfied that his charge was safe, he allowed his shoulders to relax slightly before turning his attention to the two others who stood nearby, both looking a little unsure of what to do next. "I need to call the authorities and report what just happened. You two willing to stick around and give statements?"
"Of course." Izuku said with zero hesitation.
"Absolutely." The girl spoke almost as quickly as Izuku did, and Momo saw her earlobes, elongated with metal tips, move upwards by themselves. "I got some good hearing, so I can also report what he was saying."
Gādo looked at the girl with a devious smile on his face. "Girl, I'm more impressed with that kick than anything else. He aint walking right for a week." He couldn't hide his admiration for how efficiently she had handled the situation, and despite the severity of the moment, his tone was lighter.
The girl matched his energy instantly, "Only a week? I can probably make that longer." As she spoke she half lifted her leg, ready for another kick.
Gādo chuckled, clearly amused by the girl's confidence. "While I'd love to look the other way for that," he looked around at the attention their small group was gaining from other parkgoers, "someone would probably catch that on their phone. Best to leave it be for now. Speaking of phones…" He turned back to Momo, face a mixture of irritation, concern, and confusion. "I called you several times to give you an excuse to pull out of there. Why didn't you take it?"
Confused the noirette started digging through her pockets. It hadn't occurred to her at the moment, but it was weird for Gādo to not throw her a life line. Yet she never heard her phone go off. After a moment of searching, she finally came to the conclusion, "I must have left it in the car. I'm sorry."
Gādo let out a heavy sigh, a cloud of bubbles escaping from his support item in response to his frustration. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault." His voice was gruff but understanding, his eyes shifting to Kabuto, who still lay on the ground, writhing in pain and whimpering. The disgust on Gādo's face was clear, his lip curling slightly as he looked at the boy.
The body guard took out his phone and called the police, explaining the situation and asking for assistance. Momo was put in an awkward position, she knew she had to stay to give a statement, but she didn't want to hang around her classmate any longer than she had to. Looking around she saw a burger joint just outside of the park grounds, close by and within Gādo's view. Turning back to Izuku and the purple-haired girl, who were quietly talking amongst themselves now, Momo hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Could I offer you two a bite?"
"One double bacon burger for you, hon," the waitress said with a smile as she set a large plate down in front of the ponytailed girl. "And a patty melt with extra onions," she continued, placing the second plate in front of the purple-haired girl—Jirou, as Momo had just learned. "And a small order of chili fries. Let me know if you need anything else." She said with a cheerful nod before walking away, leaving the three of them to their meals.
The three politely thanked her as she walked away before digging into their respective meals. Momo looked down at her own plate with some reservation. She had become slightly addicted to greasy food ever since Mina took her to the mall's food court, and while she wasn't embarrassed about allowing herself a treat now and then, she was a little apprehensive about eating such a large meal in front of people.
"Don't think eating like this is going to have the desired effects of training." Jirou said while cutting her sandwich in half.
Izuku spoke up, a fry hanging from his lip, "Does that mean I can have yours?"
The girl held out her knife, ready for an attack. "Fuck off Green!"
Momo couldn't help but laugh at their playful banter, finally feeling comfortable enough to dig into her own meal as the two attempted to steal food off each other's plates. The sound of her laughter seemed to catch Izuku's attention, as he tried to bring her into the conversation. "Thank you for the meal, but this really wasn't necessary. We could ha- HEY!" As he was speaking to her, Jirou took the opportunity to finally snatch some of his fries.
"Like Green was saying, we could have paid for our own meals." A satisfied smile was aimed at Izuku while she spoke.
Momo smiled softly at their antics. "It was really my pleasure," she said, her tone sincere as she set her burger down. "A thank you for helping me out of that situation."
"We were happy to help." Jirou said, giving Momo her full attention now. "Besides, you already had it covered with that pepper spray. Dude's going to be crying his eyes out tonight."
They all looked over to the park, seeing Gādo speaking to an officer while Kabuto was sitting in the back of a police car. Even from this distance they could see he was still in pain from the pepper spray. Momo almost felt bad about using the strongest mixture in her repertoire. Almost.
"Perhaps," she murmured, "but I appreciate the help nonetheless." She let out a small, weary sigh, "Most people pretend not to notice."
Jirou's posture stiffened, her ear jacks raising in an attack position. "He's done this before?" she asked, her voice low, sharp with anger. Even Izuku looked horrified by the news.
"This is the first time he has been this brazen, but the unwanted advances are nothing new." She let out a defeated sounding chuckle. "The funny thing is the other girls in school find him quite charming. I'm the odd one out."
Jirou's jaw tightened. She set down her sandwich and scooted her chair closer to Momo, her earlier playfulness replaced with concern. "That's not funny, Momo. That's messed up." There was a hard edge to her voice now, her brows furrowed in anger on Momo's behalf. "You shouldn't have to deal with that. None of us should."
Izuku, meanwhile, sat quietly, his brow furrowed. His hands had stopped moving, frozen mid-reach for another fry. The thought of someone harassing Momo, or anyone for that matter, was unsettling. He wanted to say something, to comfort her, but the words seemed stuck in his throat, and he was terrified of saying the wrong thing.
Before he could figure out how to break the silence, Momo spoke up, her voice bright but clearly meant to shift the conversation away from the heavy topic. "So, Izuku, how's your business going?" she asked, tilting her head slightly with genuine curiosity. It was obvious she wanted to lighten the mood, but her question carried a warmth that surprised him. She actually remembered. Their conversation about his goals had happened so long ago the fact that it had stuck with her caught him off guard.
"Oh! Uh, it's going okay, I guess," he said with a sheepish smile. "People say I'm helpful at least."
"Of course you're helpful," Momo replied, her voice filled with confidence as she leaned forward a little. "Because of you pointing out a major flaw in my training, I can now run at full speed while creating objects to use. I had to adjust the speed of the creation, but it's much more efficient than being a sitting duck." Her eyes sparkled with gratitude, the smallest hint of pride in her own progress showing through.
"That's great! You were already a shoo-in for the hero course, but now you can't fail." Izuku had a wide smile on his face, nothing but happy to hear about the girls progress.
Jirou, who had been quietly observing their exchange, chimed in with a curious tone. "Oh, you're aiming for the UA hero course too?"
"Yes. I was originally on my way to the gym to get some training in today."
Jirou gave her a nod of approval, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Maybe we'll end up in the same class."
The possibility of having someone she already knew in the hero course made Momo's heart lift. She hadn't considered that before, but now the thought seemed incredibly appealing. "I'd love that!" she said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. The idea of having friends by her side at UA was more comforting than she expected, especially after everything that had happened today.
Momo turned her attention back to Izuku, her smile softening as she remembered something else. "And what about you, Izuku? Have you made any decisions about school?"
Izuku hesitated for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck as if unsure how to answer. "Yeah," he said, his voice quiet at first. "I decided to take your advice and go for UA anyway. Even if it's just Gen Ed, the school's still number one in the nation. It'll hopefully open some doors in the future." He paused, his gaze drifting down to the fries on his plate. His voice lowered to a mumble, so soft that only Jirou, with her enhanced hearing, could catch the words. "If I even manage to get in."
Jirou's sharp ears twitched slightly, catching the insecurity in his voice, but she didn't comment on it. Instead, she watched him thoughtfully, her brow furrowing as she glanced between him and Momo.
"That's wonderful!" Momo said, her eyes lighting up. "I hope to see you there." The excitement in her voice was unmistakable, the idea of having not just one but two people she knew at UA making the future seem even brighter.
Their meal was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. A police officer, her blond hair gleaming almost like polished metal under the restaurant's lights, walked up to their table. Her expression was serious but not unkind. "Sorry to disturb you kids," she said, her voice professional but gentle, "but are you the one that boy attacked?"
Momo nodded, setting down her napkin and giving a quick glance at Jirou and Izuku. The three of them quickly provided their statements and contact information. The officer, whose face remained unreadable throughout, took down the details with practiced efficiency. "With the statements we've collected from other witnesses and footage from nearby security cameras, this should be an open-and-shut case," she informed them. "You likely won't have to deal with this again."
Momo felt a wave of relief wash over her as the officer left. The weight of the day's events had been pressing on her chest, but now, knowing Kabuto would face consequences, she could breathe a little easier.
Gādo appeared moments later, his large frame casting a familiar, protective shadow over the table. He wore a tired expression, his brows furrowed as he rubbed his temples like a man trying to fend off a headache. "Alright, kiddo," he said, his voice a low rumble, "it's time to go home. Your parents are worried sick about you. I just barely convinced your old man not to storm over here on a war path," Gādo added with a wry smile. "But it looks like we'll have to skip the gym today."
Momo stood up, relieved to go home but also saddened at leaving the company of her two… were they friends? "It was really nice meeting you, Jirou," Momo said, her smile warm and sincere as she looked at the purple-haired girl who had helped her through the day. "And it was great seeing you again, Izuku. I truly hope to see you both at UA."
Jirou, ever casual, gave a small smile and shrugged. "Likewise, Momo. It'll be fun to have someone I know in the hero course."
"I know you'll get in, I hope I'll meet you there." Izuku cheered, his voice both excited and nervous.
As Momo walked away, with Gādo standing closer than usual, she found that she couldn't stop smiling while thinking about the future.
Authors notes;
Yeah, I had no idea how to end this one. Sorry it was so abrupt
As a man I don't have much experiance being on the recieving end of this type of harrassment, and I for damn sure never spoken to anyone like this in my life. (My parents would of beat me to hell and back before the cops arrived if I did) So sorry if it ended up unrealistic or just plain cringe. Hopefully what I was going for shown through regardless.
As always, please leave a comment. They tell me what I did right, what I did wrong, and I just enjoy getting them.
